Plymouth Argyle vs Burton Albion - Match Report

Argyle 1

 

Paris Cowan-Hall 49

 

Burton Albion 2

 

Nathan Stanton 74

Robbie Weir 79

 

Plymouth Argyle’s winless run continued as the Brewers recorded a 2-1 victory over the Pilgrims as they came from behind to win the game after Paris Cowan-Hall opened the scoring.  

Carl Fletcher had made five changes from Sunday’s unacceptable result in the FA Cup away to Conference South side, Dorchester Town. The young manager also chose to go back to the 4-4-2 formation.  The manager recalled Jake Cole, Luke Young, Alex MacDonald, Warren Feeney and Guy Madjo.  Whilst Rene Gilmartin, Joe Lennox, Scott Griffiths and Rhys Griffiths dropped to the bench.  One noticeable player absent from the squad was midfielder Conor Hourihane.  The Irish born player  was serving a one match suspension after he was sent off after picking up two yellow cards inside 10minutes in Dorchester.  Whilst for Burton Albion they had made two changes to their squad after securing an injury time equalizer in there FA Cup tie against Altrincham.  Forward Billy Kee was dropped to the bench in favor of Cleveland Taylor, whilst Jack Dyer replaced on-loan midfielder Jordan Chappell.  The manager had gone for a 4-5-1 looking formation.  There was also one familiar face returning to Home Park when Burton Albion travelled to Plymouth.  Left Back Damien McCrory grew up as a boy in Plymouth after progressing through the youth team back in 2008.  The Irish player then spent most of his Argyle career on loan to various clubs including Port Vale.  The Brewers left back then decided to move to London club Dagenham & Redbridge.

The game started very quietly, with both team trying to earn the right to play.  On a winters Wednesday evening the Argyle players were looking to keep warm with their executed passing.  Central midfielder Luke Young proved to be a threat skipping past challenges and into the penalty area.  The only thing preventing him from pulling of a shot was a superb tackle. Right back Durrell Berry was causing all sorts of problems to the Burton defence with the player making many runs into his own half.  After Alex MacDonald was fouled by an un timing tackle he was always struggling with injury.  Carl Fletcher did the right thing and brought the young on-loan Burnley winger off, with Paris Cowan-Hall replacing him.  After the game, fans learnt the real reason for Fletchers tactical substitution.  Alex MacDonald had lost a family member on the morning of the game.  Cowan-Hall was brought on as MacDonald wasn’t in the right frame of mind to continue playing.  An understandable change from the manager.   It wasn’t until the half hour mark when Argyle had their first shot at goal. The Pilgrims had their first corner of the game with Jamie Lowry delivering a beauty of an in swinging cross, as it was cleared to the edge of the box Onismor Bhasera playing at left back struck the ball ever so sweetly with his right foot.   The goalkeeper Mark Oxley was nowhere to be seen but unluckily the football just went inches wide of the left hand post stopping the versatile player from celebrating his first goal of the season.  The second chance on goal was in Argyle favor as they were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box.  Jamie Lowry the Newquay born delivered his inch prefect free kick once again with Centre back Curtis Nelson rising the highest out of the players.  He was to see his effort palmed away by Mark Oxley.  Most of the ground rose in delight to celebrate the opening goal but were left stranded in the air when they realized the Burton Albion goalkeeper was stepping up to take a goal kick. 

It didn’t take Argyle long at all to get the lead in the game from a superbly taken goal from Paris Cowan-Hall in the 49minute.  Hard worker Warren Feeney controlled the ball beautifully midway inside the Burton half.  He then used all of his experience to pick out substituted Cowan Hall with the outside of his foot.  The tricky winger then moved into the penalty area to slide the ball home into the goalkeeper near post.  That sent the green army wild.  We had something to shout about.  From that Cowan-Hall goal Argyle were in total control of the game, keeping possession and playing some pretty football to go with it.  Minutes later Captain Maxime Blanchard had nearly doubled the score line.  Jamie Lowry delivered another outstanding corner with Blanchard rising the highest to only see his header cleared of the goal-line by a defender.  Both players Cowan-Hall and Durrell Berry were causing all sorts of problems down the right wing with Paris inviting them to foul him.  That resulted in players being booked.  Former Pilgrim Damien McCrory was the first of the two players to go into the referee’s notebook.  The second was Nathan Stanton who was booked for a challenge on Cowan-Hall.  The Pilgrims continued to pressure the Burton defence with former Brewer Andres Gurrieri unlashing a 25yarder.  Mark Oxley was equal to the swirly ball to palm it away from the goal. With 74minutes on the clock Argyle were still looking every comfortable but were sadly undone by a quick corner from the run of play.  This goal came from Nathan Stanton who was first to the loose ball after Jake Cole had failed to keep hold of Zander Diamonds header. In quick concession Burton had taken the lead and was looking to go back to Staffordshire with all three points.  Chris Palmer had delivered an inviting cross into the penalty box, Jake Cole could not hold onto the cross, he punched the ball away for only Robbie Weir to head home the winner in Wednesdays night fixture.  The players were fighting and pushing for another goal to equalize. 

It wasn’t to be Argyle had fallen to their forth defeat in a row. 

Burton were going home with all the three points from a game that Argyle dominated.     

Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Jake Cole; 2 Durrell Berry, 17 Curtis Nelson, 4 Maxime Blanchard (capt), 14 Onismor Bhasera; 32 Alex MacDonald (7 Paris Cowan-Hall 28), 8 Luke Young, 16 Jamie Lowry (19 Joe Lennox 87), 27 Andres Gurrieri; 18 Guy Madjo (10 Rhys Griffiths 82), 11 Warren Feeney. Substitutes (not used): 20 Rene Gilmartin (gk), 23 Jamie Richards, 29 Tyler Harvey, 33 Scott Griffiths.

Burton Albion (4-5-1): 30 Mark Oxley; 20 Anthony O’Connor, 5 Zander Diamond (capt), 4 Nathan Stanton, 14 Damien McCrory; 7 Cleveland Taylor (29 Billy Kee 56), 8 Robbie Weir, 22 Jack Dyer, 23 Lee Bell, 19 Jacques Maghoma (11 Chris Palmer 61); 10 Calvin Zola. Substitutes (not used): 9 Justin Richards, 15 Matt Palmer, 16 Dean Lyness (gk), 18 Matt Paterson, 21 Marcus Holness.

Booked: Taylor 31, McCrory 53, Stanton 59

Attendance: 5,219 (33 away)

Referee: Mick Russell